People attend classes on offer at the Progress Association in Mozambique.
The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize has gone jointly to Mozambique’s Progress Association and Sri Lanka’s National Institute of Education on Sept. 8, International Literacy Day.
The Mozambican association runs the “Literacy in Local Language, a Springboard for Gender Equality” project, a series of educational programs aimed at reducing illiteracy and improving gender equality across the nation. UNESCO recognized the body for its dedication through these programs to teaching adults and children to read and write in their mother tongue. The efforts, UNESCO acknowledged, have contributed to increasing the participation of women in programs designed for national development, as well as to improving their rights and quality of life.
Adults and children alike receive an education at the Sri Lanka-based National Institute of Education.
Across the ocean, the award-winning Sri Lankan institute offers educational opportunities to people deprived of a formal education, especially women and isolated social groups, such as street children and prisoners. The organization has been recognized for its contributions to eradicating poverty.
UNESCO has designated Sept. 8 as International Literacy Day and since 1990 has awarded the King Sejong Literacy Prize to individuals or groups that have contributed to eliminating illiteracy across the globe.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will invite a group of representatives from the prize-winning organizations to Korea on Oct. 9, the day that celebrates the invention and proclamation of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. The group will get a glimpse into Korea’s cultural legacies by visiting the royal tomb of King Sejong the Great, the creator of Hangeul, and the National Hangeul Museum.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
jiae5853@korea.kr
